Deconstruct Project
Over the past few years, there has been a significant increase in identity-based hatred, discrimination, and intolerance, often leading to violence. These trends transcend borders and are exacerbated by the widespread dissemination of hate through various media channels, both online and in print. Antisemitism, in particular, is rising at a faster pace compared to other forms of hatred. One of the many manifestations of antisemitism is Holocaust distortion. Recent years have witnessed a shocking surge in attempts within international public and political discourse to downplay the impact of the Holocaust and minimise the crimes committed by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. Holocaust distortion is not confined to national boundaries, nor is it limited to a single language. International cooperation and developing media literacy skills are crucial in combating this form of hatred. Through this program, a transnational consortium of organisations dedicated to countering hate and discrimination will work together to combat racism and intolerance through research, education, and public programming, specifically addressing antisemitism and Holocaust distortion. The program will deliver research findings, online educational resources, and an innovative public awareness campaign to engage educators, students, decision- makers, and policymakers, equipping them with the necessary resources and training to combat antisemitism and Holocaust distortion, while also fostering the development of media literacy skills. The learning resources will initially be developed in English and then localised by the partners for use in different local languages and contexts. The consortium aims to establish a continuous cycle of education and engagement rooted in research and evaluation, empowering beneficiaries to progress from learning to understanding and creating virtual spaces where individuals can mobilise their collective and individual power to take action.
The consortium consists of five partners from four European countries. Four important geographies - Greece, Hungary, Portugal, and Italy - are brought together in this partnership. We also bring together different sectors: universities, with different department foci (History, Pedagogy, and Translation), NGO and a Research Institute to demonstrate how these sectors can work together. Besides the usual cooperation between partners, this project emphasises sharing knowledge and experience.
Activities
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The first learning activity developed during the #DECONSTRUCT Project was published in Hungarian. The activity explores the topics of Holocaust distortion and denial—phenomena that question, deny or distort the facts and details of the genocide committed during World War II.
This activity helps students strengthen their critical thinking skills and enables them to recognize and reject denialist and distortive narratives, which pose a threat to society and our shared values in many ways. The activity is available on the USC Shoah Foundation's IWitness platform after a short registration. In the course of the project, activities in all languages of the consortium will be developed and published, ensuring that students across different countries have access to educational resources that promote historical awareness and critical thinking.